George Latimer (Pennsylvania politician)

George Latimer
3rd Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
1794–1798
Preceded by Gerardus Wynkoop
Succeeded by Cadwalader Evans
Personal details
Born 1750
Newport, Delaware
Died 1825
Political party Federalist
Profession Merchant

George Latimer (July 8, 1750 – June 12, 1825)[1] was a Philadelphia merchant[2] and member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He served as speaker of the Pennsylvania House 1794–1798.

Early life

Latimer was born in Newport, Delaware.[1]

Personal life

Latimer married Margaret Cathcart on February 20, 1771. They had two daughters and one son.[1]

He was severely injured after being thrown from his horse. He could not walk a great distance and had to be driven to his place of business.[1]

By 1892, he had no living direct descendants.[1]

Military service

Latimer was a lieutenant-colonel in the Revolutionary Army.[1]

Political activities

In 1779, Latimer was elected as an assemblyman from New Castle County, Delaware.[3]

He served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1792 to 1799.[4] He ran for a House seat in 1789.[5]

In 1791, Latimer (along with Henry Drinker, Robert Hare, Joseph Heister, George Fry, William Montgomery, and Samuel Miles) was named in a bill as a commissioner of a company to open a canal and lock navigation system between the Schuylkill and Susquehannah Rivers. The bill passed the House and was scheduled to be read for a third time in the state Senate.[6]

He was named as a presidential elector for the Election of 1792.[7]

Latimer served as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1794–1798. Election dates:

Latimer was chairman of a meeting in Philadelphia for the support of State Senate candidate Benjamin R. Morgan.[13]

He was a collector of customs at Philadelphia,[14] 1798[15] – May 11, 1802 (replaced by General Peter Muhlenberg).[16] The Poulson's American Daily Advertiser claimed that he was forced to resign and hoped the details would be made public. They also suggested that General Muhlenberg was put in this position so as to prevent a future gubernatorial candidacy.[17]

In 1802, Latimer was nominated for a seat in the United States House of Representatives by the Federalist Party.[18] He came in fourth out of six candidates, receiving 1,599 votes.[19]

He served as a Federalist presidential elector in the Election of 1804.[20]

Business Activities

Latimer was elected as a director of the Bank of the United States in October, 1791.[21]

Latimer served as president of the Union Fire Insurance Company.[1] His merchant businesses were located at 71 South Wharves and 1 Pine Street.[1]

Other activities

Latimer became a member of the Hibernian Society in 1790.[1]

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Campbell, John Hugh (1892), History of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and of the Hibernian Society for the Relief of Emigrants from Ireland: March 17, 1771 – March 17, 1892, Hibernian Society, pp. 119–120
  2. ↑ "(Advertisement)", Independent Gazetteer, 1784-04-24: 3
  3. ↑ "(Legislative)", Pennsylvania Packet, 1779-10-19: 3
  4. ↑ Hamilton, Alexander; Syrett, Harold C. (1975), The Papers of Alexander Hamilton: July 1798 to March 1799, Columbia University Press, p. 133, ISBN 0-231-08921-X
  5. ↑ Independent Gazetteer (Philadelphia), 1789-10-12: 2 Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ Dunlap's American Daily Advertiser, 1791-09-27: 2 Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ "For Electors of a President and Vice President of the United States", Dunlap's American Daily Advertiser, 1792-10-03: 2
  8. ↑ Federal Gazette, 1793-12-04: 3 Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ "Legislature of Pennsylvania", Gazette of the United States, 1794-12-05: 3
  10. ↑ "Philadelphia, Thursday Evening, December 3, 1795", Gazette of the United States, 1795-12-03: 3
  11. ↑ Philadelphia Gazette, 1796-12-08: 3 Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ↑ Farmers' Register, 1798-05-16: Supplement (21) Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ↑ Gazette of the United States, 1798-02-20: 3 Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ↑ Marcus, Maeva; Perry, James R. (2007), The documentary history of the Supreme Court of the United States, 1789–1800 (8 ed.), Columbia University Press, p. 397, ISBN 0-231-13976-4
  15. ↑ "(Advertisement)", Porcupine's Gazette, 1798-10-29: 2
  16. ↑ Carlisle Gazette, 1802-05-12: 3 Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. ↑ Poulson's American Daily Advertiser, 1802-07-29: 3 Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ↑ "Federal Republican Meeting", Philadelphia Gazette, 1802-09-11: 1
  19. ↑ Gazette of the United States, 1802-10-14: 2 Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. ↑ Pennsylvania Correspondent, 1804-10-30: 3 Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ↑ Federal Gazette, 1791-10-17: 3 Missing or empty |title= (help)